Sweeper



Sept 11, 1934 c. J. cHRlsTEsEN .l 1,972,870

SWEEPER 2 Sheets-sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1955 INVENTOR CHARLES J CHR/STEsE/v A. ORNE* 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

SWEEPER C. J. CHRISTESEN Filed March 16,

Sept. 11, 1934.

atented Sept. ll, 1934- UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE Irving H. Vogel, New York, N. Y.

Application March 16, 1933, Serial No. 661,016

10 Claims.

This invention relatesv to sweepers for cleaning carpets and floor surfaces generally.

The objects of this invention are to provide a device of such character, which will be particularly simple, inexpensive, light and easy to operate and eiiicient in action.

In addition to such general objects, it is also a purpose of the invention to enable the sweepings being quickly and easily removed from the machine and to enable the brush to adapt itself more or less to different floor conditions, such as carpets of high and low naps.

The novel features of construction, combinations and relatio'ns of parts bylwhich the foregoing and other desirable objects are attained will appear as the specificationproceeds.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specication illustrate definite practical embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that the structure may be modiiled and changed within the true intent and broad scope of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the sweeper, the handle being broken away for lack of space.

i Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken vertical section of the sweeper as on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a broken sectional detail as on substantially the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a broken part sectional detail of the automatic dust pan lock, taken as on the plane of line 4- -4 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views as taken on substantially the planes of lines 5-5 and 6--6 of Fig. 1, illustrating features of brush operation 5 in both directions of travel and location of the brush at different elevations.

Fig. 'i is a broken sectonal view of the oppositely operating gearing for driving the brush in the same direction in opposite movements of the sweeper.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of an alternative form of such gear, showing the reverse drive clutches as incorporated in the brush ends, instead of inthe gear trains, as in the first form shown.

L The casing 10, of theisweeper is shown as of low fiat design with an unobstructed smooth top and with a downwardly inclined front end 11,

, so as to readily pass beneath and about furniture and other objects on a oor.

The brush 12 is shown mounted in the extreme forward portion of the sweeper case and with a capability of rising and lowering to suit different heights of nap, hardwood floors, etc. Such mounting is provided in the construction illustrated by journalling the ends of the brush at 13, in mounting discs 14, pivoted at 15, to the ends of the case and by connecting links 16, with said discs at 1'7, said links being connected with eccentric studs 18, on discs 19, journalled in the ends of the case and forming the rocking bearings for the bail portion 20, of the handle 21.

The links 16 are shown as longitudinallyslotted at 22, where they make pivotal connection with studs 18, to allow a certain independence of action and springs 23, connected between the links 55 at 24 and anchorages 25. onthe ends of the case draw the links forwardly of the case normally taking up the lost motion pro 'ded by slots 18, to rock the .mounting discs 14, forwardly and thereby lower the brush, which, as will be clear from Fig. 5, is journalled eccentrically in the forward portions of such discs.

If the brush encounters any obstruction, it can yield upwardly against the force of the springsv '23, the links slipping backward to the extent 75 permitted by the lost' motion connections at 22, 18. Positive lifting of the brush can be eifected by rocking the handle upwardly as indicated in Fig. 6, the eccentric studs 18 in such movement pulling back on the links to rock the mounting discs, right-handedly in Fig. 6, t0 lift the brush journals. Rotation of the brush always in the same sweeping direction is accomplished in the constructions illustrated, by driving it alternately from supporting rolls at opposite ends of the case with reversely operating one way clutches, faced to operate in the proper direction.

The brush driving rolls or wheels are indicated at 26, 27,1ourna1led concentrically with the brush 90 mounting discs 14, on the studs 15. 'These supporting and brush driving wheels are shown in Fig. '1, as of hollow form, with the discs 14 received as closures within the inner open sides ofl the same. The left hand side wheel 26 is shown 95 -as carrying a loose ring gear 28, on the hub of the same in mesh with a pinion 29, on the adjoining end of the brush shaft and a roll clutch, consisting of rolls 30', confined in the wedge spaces 31 (Fig. 5), between thel inside of the ring gear 100 28 and clutch member 32, on the hub part of the wheel makes this gearing effective to drive the brush in the sweeping direction, when the sweeper is drawn backwardly, as. will be clearfrom the direction indicating arrows in Fig; 5.

The same sweeping rotation 'oi' the brush is effected in the forward movement of thefl sweeper by the gearing shown in Fig. 6 and at the right in Fig. '1, consisting of an annular gear 33, in mesh with pinion 34, on the opposite ends of thel 11 brush shaft and having connection with the hub ofrright hand wheel 427, through the oppositely faced one `way clutch, consisting of rolls 35, in wedge recesses 36, between the inner hub portion 37, of annular gear 33 and the companion clutch portion 38.0n the hub of wheel 27.

The oppositely working one way clutches may be combined with the brush structure, rather than in the gearing, as will be understood from Fig. 8, where like reference characters have been used to designate parts corresponding to those previously described and where the one way reversely acting roller clutches are indicated generally at 39and 40, the brush ends carrying discs 41, 42, concentrically rotatable with respectto discs 43, 44, directconnection with the pinions 29, the rollers serving as oppositely clutching connections between such discs. The gearing at opposite sides of the machine is like that4 shown in Eig. 7, in that the supporting and driving wheels have one a hub gear 45 and the other, an internal rim gear 45' for driving the brush pinions 29, both in the same direction, the reverse clutches in the ends of the brush causing the brush to be -drivenat one time from one wheel and at another time from the other wheel. i

The dust and-sweepings are caught in a tray 46, mounted directly behind the brush and withdrawable as a drawer out of the back of the case. This' is accomplished by providing afull width and substantially full height opening 47, in the back of the case and by providing guides 48, inside .the case andshown as carried. directly by the top of the case to receivethe rails or ilanges 49, on the drawer-like .tray or pan.

The bottom of the dust tray is shown in Fig. 2. as sloped downwardly and forwardly to a suitably close approach to the floor level, the same terminating at the lower forward end in an upwardly and rearwardly angled dust guiding and confining flange 50.' At the top. the sides of the pan are shown connected by an overstanding cross piece 5l, which deflects dust and sweepings' down to the bottom of the tray, in addition to spacing the tray sides, so that they will slide freely in the supporti118 guides.

A handle 52, on the back of the tray provides `a convenient means; for withdrawing and then turning the tray to dump the contents of .the

same. A spring ball detent is indicatedat 53, Fig. 2for releasably holding'the pan in position in the case.

To positively prevent the dust tray from shaking loose with the back and forth movement ofthe sweeper, a special lock is provided, in the illustration, consisting of a spring pressed bolt or plunger 54, 'in cooperate with the tray as indicated at 55. Figs. 3 and 4, and adapted to be retracted from such vholding engagement by a cam element 56, on one of the rocking bearings 19 of the handle. This bolt withdrawing cam may be positioned to release the bolt from the dust tray atapproximately the time the handle reaches the upright position indicated in Fig. 1

Trailer wheels or rollers are shown at 57 within vthe case at opposite sides of the back portion of the tray. This amusement permitting a full size trayvequalin width to the active length of What is claimed is: v 1. A sweeper comprising a case, a brush journalled therein and means for raising and lowering said brush. comprising rocking supports in which the brush is journalled, apush handle pivotally connected with the case,- links having lost motion eccentric connections with the pivotal supports for the handle and connected with the rocking supports for the brush and springs connected with said -links to take up the lost l motion and yieldingly shift the brush to lowered position.

2 A sweeper comprising a casing having an opening through one side of the same, a dust tray slidably insertable through said side opening, a brush in the casing in cooperative relation to the inserted dust tray, a push-pull handle fory for the casing shiftable to positions of use and non-use and positive locking means for the tray operative by the handle to lock the tray in the case in the position of use of the handle and to unlock the tray in the position of non-use of the handle, leaving the tray in the latter f condition under .control solely of the spring detent. v

4. A sweeper comprising a case, traction wheels of hollow construction Journalled at the sidesof said case and having open sides faced inwardly of the case, concentrically mounted closures lo-v cated in said open. sides of the tractionwheels, a brush journalled eccentrically in said closures, drive gearing from said wheels to said brush and means for rocking said closures to accomplish relative raising and lowering of the brush in the case.

5. A sweeper comprising a case, traction wheels of hollow construction journalled atl the side of said case and having open sides faced inwardly of the case, concentrically mounted closures located in said open sides of the traction wheels, a brush journalled eccentrically in said closures, drive gearing from said wheels to said brush, means for rocking said closures to accomplish relative raising and lowering of the brush in the case, said means including links connected eccentrically with said closures, a push-pull handle journalled to the case, eccentric studs at the pivot mountings of said handle, said links havsprings acting on said links to automatically take up the lost motion affordedby said slots.

6. A sweeper comprising acase, traction wheels ing slotted engagement with said studs and of hollow construction Journalled at the side ofv said case and having open sides faced inwardly of the case, concentrically mounted closures located in said open sides of the traction wheels, a brush journalled eccentrically in said closures," drive gearing from said wheels to said brush, means for rocking said closures to accomplish relative raising and lowering of the brush in the case. the drive gearing including gears and a one way clutch from one traction wheel to drive the brush in a brushing direction when the sweeper is moved in one direction and reversely acting drive gearing and one way clutchfrom the other traction wheel for also rotating the brush in the sweeping direction when the sweeper is shifted in the opposite'direction.

7. A sweeper comprising la case, a brush iour- I nailed therein and means rfor raising and lowering ma brush inciuding rocking supports in which the brush is journalled, a push handle pivotally connected with the case, links eccentrically connected with the pivotal supports of the handle and connected with the rocking supports o@ the brush, the connections at certain ends of the links being of lost motion construction, permitting rocking movements of the brush supports, independently of the pivotal -handle supports and spring means acting normally to take up such lost motion and to yieldngly shift the rocking brush supports to a brush lowered position.

8. A sweeper comprising a sweeper case, traction wheels supporting the same, a brush mounted for upwardly yielding movements in said case and driven from said traction wheels, a push handle connected with the case and means operable by said push handle to overcome the yielding mounting of the brush and to eect raising and lowering of the brush in the case, said means including lost motion connections enabling automatic lifting movements of the brush independently of the handle control upon encountering obstructions and the like.

9. A sweeper comprising a case, disconnected, independently mounted, separately rotating traction wheels at opposite sides of the same, a brush mounted with its ends immediately adjoining said traction wheels, gearing direct from one traction wheel to the immediately adjoining end of said brush for driving said brush in one direction while the sweeper is moving in one direction and gearing direct from the other traction wheel to the other and immediately adjoining end of said brush for driving said brush in the same direction as before when said sweeper is moved in the opposite direction and a dust tray positioned to receive the sweepings from the brush.

10. A sweeper of the character disclosed, comprising a box case open at the bottom and having connected top, front and side walls and a removable back wall, a revolving brush in the forward portion of the case extending across between the side walls, brush driving traction wheels supported close to said side walls immediately in back of the brush and independently of each other, leaving the space therebetween free and clear, trailer wheels likewise independent of each other and mounted close to the side walls in the back portion of the case with the space therebetween likewise free and clear and a dust tray removable with said removable back wall of the case and supported from the top in the clear space between the side walls in back of the brush.

CHARLES J. CHRISTESEN. 

